Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-17
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY.
racts In Regard to It's Record and Pa
History.

Inc enterprise and energy which have
characterized the management Of the Ameri
can Express Company during the past ten
years have caused that corporation 10 be can.
stantiy loelled as "monopolv." The ex-
press business does not differ from that Of
any other, and 1t is natural that this CORPORA
tion should use every legitimate means to ex
tend Its business, wherever it can be done at
reasonable profit, and it can be considered
almost certain that the public interests are
not injured thereby.
When the American Express Company alb
sorbed the business of the Eastern Express
Company there was this same cry of ..monop
oily. When, later, it absorbed the business
OF the United States and Canada Express.
Company, the same familiar cry was raised
But TO those who employed the company, and
wished to send packages from, say st. John
N. b., to San Francisco, it was an advantage
that they should have but one company, one
responsible party, to deal with.
The concentration of the express business
has been benefit to the public, inasmHch as
instead of dealing with two three or more
parties, the public has had to deal with but
one. Where transfers of matter from one
express to another would be made in the past .
causing great d ifficulty and DELAYS in tracing
packages lost, now there is but one Company
As the name would Indicate. rapid commune
! cation is what is most desired And if pack
ages are not sent by fast trains they surely
cannot be said to be "express''
In olden times most of the express matter
was sent on slow fright trains, but now, ow-
ing to enterprise and modern methods intro
duced into the express business, those pack
ages are sent by the American on tn" fastest
trains, and, indeed, the American Express
Company runs special train to the West
for express matter
When the American Express Company alb
sorbed the United States and Canada express
it was expected that rates would be imme-
diately raised; but this was in no case done
and, indeed, in many cases, rates were re.
revised and reductions lde from those
charged by the old company.
| The record of this company is not one to
be deprecated, but it is entitled to the CON.
mendation of all fair minded MN who be-
lieve in push and enterprise. They lnaugu-
rated low rates on express packages t. the
West; placed Boston upon an equal footing
| with New York in regard to rates; reduced
the rates on express parcels so that they are
now carried for one half the rates charg' d
by local companies in times past; introduced
the through car system to far distant bu-i-
ness centres introduced the cheap money
order system and also the passenger baggage
in bond system, whereby the delays of GUS
tom houses are avoided also many other I'M
provements. which are fully appreciated and
understood by those who have business rela-
tons with this company. 1t is true its his
tory is largely one of consolidation and alb
sorption, but it is not antagonistic to the
public interests in all this, and its business
enterprise is always directed not only for its
own good, but also that of its patrons. Small
| packages can now be sent from ST. John, n
b., to San. Francisco at less cost than was
formerly charged from St. John, N. , to
Boston. and it is hard to see where the public
| has not been benefited by the course of this
company.
| 1t covers now over 45, 900 miles of railroad
and has over $500 agencies. 1t is a vast bus
mess. As an instance of its fairmindt dness
can be cited its action in regard to matter lost
on the wrecked steamer Cambridge, and also
| in regard to express matter injured by the &C.
cident to the steamer Katahdn, when the
company paid all losses and damages result
ing theretrom in full
All the improved methods of transacting
the express business in this country have
been either introduced by the American Ex-
press Company, or have been promptly adopt
! ed bv it. 1t may have its faults, but it is
surely enterprising; and it has gone ahead
with persistency and dash that always win
applause in this age.
1t is the only local express company which
was ever compimented by resolution from
the Boston Merchants Association, ack
edging its efforts to place Boston upon an
equal footing with New York in regard to
rates by express to Western points. and it
surely has many friends in the business CON-
munity -Boston advertiser.